Why Should We Care About The Mutilation Of A Lion?

All HELL is breaking loose, people are fuming, folks are on a witch hunt, infernos are ready to blow your minds.

And I say, it’s about fucking time.

You see, there’s this dude, a dentist (isn’t that irrelevant?) who hunted down and brutally mutilated the well-loved & legendary lion, Cecil. What I know is this: he shot him with an arrow, then proceeded to hunt him down for more than 40 hours before fatally shooting him in the head.

I don’t desire to know the rest. It hurts my heart and soul.

If you want to see the photos, they’re all over the internet like an ugly spreading stinking cancer. The dentist is the one grinning from ear to ear holding up dead lions, leopards, and rhinos, presumably while boasting a hard-on.

This scenario reminds me of the horror film, Hostile. Long story short: prosperous, narcissistic, entitled, hideous, Trump-like, spoilt individuals bid for humans to murder like in one of those snuff movies. These evil-doers pay gigantic amounts of money to perform these acts of violence and this is the highlight and thrill of their vacations.

Apparently, murder, killing, and blood must make one who is dead inside feel more alive.

While people are in mayhem over the slaughtering of Cecil, others are shouting, “What does this matter? There are horrendous things happening all over the world! Why care about a lion in Zimbabwe?”

I Disagree.

It’s not simply about a lion; it’s larger than that, more multifaceted than that.

It’s about our humanity, our evolution. It’s about respect for all things. It’s about compassion and empathy. It’s about a populace that actually believes they’re higher than, superior, entitled, and oh-so-worthy and powerful.

It’s about people calling themselves human beings when they care nothing about the life and well being of others.

That’s what’s really going on here.

What Cecil has done is put a face to our world’s hatred, apathy, indifference, & disregard for our universe.

Mercy Adiambo, my lovely pen-pal, repeats this phrase about the chaos in her country often…

“Africa kills her sun, Kim. We continually kill our sun.”

It seems apt to say, we do the same.

I think of the dentist staring into the eyes of this magnificent lion and the lion staring back at him like a majestic God. I think of his suffering, pain, the arrow sticking thru him, his heart beating rapidly wondering what will happen next.

And I cry because I already know.

I cry because we kill our sun, too.

Every. Single. Solitary. Day.

I cry because this story is not only about a lion.

—–I will be taking August off from blogging, my darlings, but I’ll still be reading yours.

Mr. Liverpool and I have planned a well needed vacation to some fun places. I think it will be beautifully liberating & fabulous. Remember—I love you. Xxx

If you’d like to donate to the wildlife preservation group who had previously been keeping track of the lion, Cecil, please visit HERE NOW!

I JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND. Killing something, which was no threat to you, is somehow manly? A sport? Fun?
A sick and sorry individual. I am so often ashamed of our species.
Have a wonderful, much deserved, vacation.

Oh, Kim thank you for writing this. You’ve put into words what I could not express. It’s so sad. We do put out our sun. Why? I think the killer is psychotic and should do time. Hard time. He will strike again if he isn’t taken down!

Yes – beautifully put. How we treat animals reflects often how we treat others. This act is despicable. My point of view is that we should care about the lion – AND we should also care equally as much about other horrendous acts against animals and people around the world.

Kim, thank you for saying so eloquently what I’ve been feeling! You know, there’s been “an element” of “humanity” that’s always found “sport” in stomping on others, whether it be the Christians in the Coliseum, the Crusaders, the slave traders, or the Cecil-killer. My heart aches for the innocent. What must God feel when He creates something beautiful, only to have man destroy it senselessly??

There seems to be some kind of impulse in human beings to destroy, just for the sake of destroying. I notice it in me, too. Let’s say I am in a nice restaurant, I use the ladies’ and there’s a seam of wallpaper just starting to open up – I *SO* want to peel back as much as I can from the wall. This is why people go to a magnificent place in the wilderness and spray paint graffiti on rocks and trees, it’s why so often we have that horrible voice inside, tearing ourselves down…

There IS a healthy place for destruction in the world, for taking the misshapen pot on the potter’s wheel and starting over. For crushing bad habits, ending bad relationships, turning rocks into beach sand. There is nothing healthy about killing a magnificent creature like Cecil, a beautiful woman like your sister, all the people of color in the news (and off the news) destroyed by those sworn to protect and serve… This breaks my heart again, and again. Have the best vacation with Mr. Liverpool that you can, sweet Kim.

Wow, Kim. So well put!!! The photo of the dentist grinning ear to ear with a limp leopard in his arms defied all belief–the fact that he’d proudly advertise his murderous instincts all over the internet. RIP beautiful Cecil.

Jann,
I’m appalled by the human-race.
I cannot believe the horrendous acts we perform.
Legal or not.
Why would somebody want to KILL, Murder, Slaughter a living thing? WHY???
I am so angry w/ the world right now.

So well said, Kim. I actually missed this story (I never watch the news) and it just breaks my heart. Why do people have to be so awful? Where is the empathy, the love, the knowing that we and all living things are connected? Sigh. I’m glad you wrote this. I’m glad you’re going on vacation and I hope that you have a wonderful amazing time. xo

Kim, I love each word you have written! To my mind, anyone who kills another living being is the barbaric monster and deserves condemnation. You have rightly hurled all those words at him, he deserves much more than those.

This is so perfect and so true. I am sickened by the violence and hatred in our society. It just seems to get worse each day. I want to crawl into a blanket fort and forget about the real world sometimes….

Cruel is cruel. This horrific act on Cecil brought me a vivid nightmare. Acts of cruelty on other animals and humans. My nightmare was in the form of a movie. Perhaps it’s the writer in me. I dream in color and my dreams are vivid.

The dream was symbolic I believe to suggest that because it included killing animals and people, that it simply defines a warped soul.

My bf told me that someone he knows saw a rat die in a trap and immediately after he saw a cloud of mist float up. Now think about this; God breathed life into every living creature. That story brings me so much hope. Hope that I will see pets I’ve lost over the years. Hope that we can see Cecil in all his beauty and bury our face in his lovely main.

Darling Kim, remember this. Life on earth is a drop in the bucket compared to eternity. That is all we have to look forward to . God will reign in the end.

Dad

August 1, 2015 at 10:25 am

I always hated trophy hunting. What sport is hanging some animal head in your den.
But some people love it. What that dentist did is paid 55,000 dollars for that lion
head, was it worth it? I doubt it. But I guess it’s all about money. most everything
is these days.
Love You
Dad

My dearest Kim,
Firstly, have a wonderful vacation – you deserve it my friend. Can’t wait to hear about it when you get back.

I.do.not. understand killing. I cannot imagine why humans want to destroy this planet and life on it. What they don’t realize is we need our animals and eco system in tact, for our future, for all of us to thrive and be healthy. As I watch the news, as I see how more and more humans selfishly live their lives, not caring, not compassionate, wanting control of a world they then destroy, it sickens me to realize my children are left with a planet, a place, a future that thrives on instant gratification and material wealth. I can only teach them to walk in others shoes…
xxx

I was shocked when I heard about the death of this beautiful lion who was so important to the preservation of his pride, then outraged when I heard of the terribly painful and unnecessary suffering he endured at the hands of this dentist from Minnesota. Even though this man’s defence has been, ‘I didn’t know it was a well-known lion’, what does that matter? He still had intention to torture for 40-hours an innocent creature on the brink of extinction. He deserves all the international condemnation he’s getting and might that be a lesson to more of his ilk. Have a wonderful holiday xx

How absolutely vile! Unless someone can figure out how to make a Birkin out of my ex husband (and a matching wallet out of his mistress), I think cruelty to animals is disgusting.
I hope you have the most amazing holiday Chicky, take pictures, and come back with lots of wonderful stories.
*kisses* C

Terri Siegler

August 1, 2015 at 8:54 pm

Wow Kim you hit every point that needed to be said, ty for putting these words together for so many of us, I feel the pain also of this poor lion being stalked like that. You are right the people with money get away with things. For me I don;t like any killings not even fish that are caught. When does this horrible thing called hunting end. It is the 21st century and all creatures are dying off too fast now just from the eco system. I am sick of it all as well. Love u Kim

Here here Kim! You always know just how to put things. I hope the world gets to read this post!
How wonderful you and Mr Liverpool will be off on vacation! Have a beautiful love filled happy time, you deserve every minute of perfect happiness.
Pete and I are at the airport waiting to board for our week in Nairobi, Kenya.
Love, love, love
🙂 Mandy xoxoxo

Well said Kim. You hit the nail on the head. He is one disgusting human. Is he human? I could go on and on. I hope they extradite him back to Africa. Sorry to say this but I would like to see happen to him exactly what he did to this magnificent lion. Karma will get him. Have a great vacation!

I was physically ill when I saw the news report about this beautiful and majestic animal being so cruelly murdered. I dont get it, I dont understand. Its sick. What does someone gain from killing something that causes no threat to you?

What a piss weak, pathetic excuse for a man he is. I wish nothing but awfulness and shit and devastation for him for the rest of his days on this earth.

On a lighter note. Have a super holiday lady. Hugs and love across the pond. xox

Kim, This is a powerful post. You are a voice of strength and truness to wake us up and start loving instead of being afraid and having to feel powerful to feel security. Loving is a better way out of that fear that has us killing our sun. I’m spreading the word, but you do it is such an organic way, I think you reach more people and I am so happy to know you. Have a fabulous vacation! <3 Jodi xoxox

Well said, Kim. The story of Cecil is heart wrenching. But it happens. All. The. Time.

These big game hunters who think they’re doing us all a favor by paying big bucks to kill a beautiful wild creature in the name of conservation, are idiots. It just doesn’t make sense. I think too, of the elephants who are killed just for their tusks. Shame on the dentist and all of his ilk who think the only way to get a thrill up their leg is to kill a beautiful creature more powerful than them. I hope this ends up ruining his practice for good. Wouldn’t want him for my dentist.

I can’t stop thinking about this lion either. I think you sum it up perfectly when you say this: It’s about respect for all things.

YES. A thousand times, YES. I am so glad that the world is now looking at this situation and this unbelievably sad story and they’re no longer mocking the preservationists or the animal lovers and the bleeding hearts. Because Cecil is and was a beloved symbol and a majestic animal. None of us has the power or the authority to play God and determine when an animal’s life has run its course.

I thank you so much fo posting this here and saying so beautifully things I have a hard time processing.

I do so much hope you are enjoying the f*** out of your vacation, my sweet. Soak up every beautiful moment with your sweetie 🙂 XOXO

This article is brilliantly written Kim, and highlights so many crucial points, I agree with you, so many of us just don’t get it, and we are the cause of our own downfall. “We Kill our sun”, I love that concept, although it is a very saddening thought. Thoughts like these are reminders to us all, thank you for posting this:

I thought I had commented on this post already, but I don’t see it. This broke my heart, I could just imagine what that beautiful majestic animal went through in those 40 hours. He didn’t deserve to die like that, at the hands of a coward. Your post is as always raw and real and touched my heart. I know, you, like me; can’t stand the thought of any living thing suffering or being abused, it just rips my heart out.
Did you read that the dentist has also been charged with sexual harassment by a previous employee and he paid her out of court, according to him just to save time and not because he was guilty of any crime.
I have heard that when a person dies there are no unanswered questions and you know all the damage and suffering you caused in your time on earth and that is what hell is, spending eternity feeling the pain you caused others. I hope that is true.
Have a great much deserved holiday my friend.
hugs from Canada.

TheKitchenLioness

August 15, 2015 at 11:12 am

Dear Kim, such a well-written post – how I enjoy to read your words and look at life from your point of view for a moment – thank you for sharing your thoughts with us!
Have a wondrous vacation with Mr. Liverpool!
Love and all the very best,
Andrea

You’re exactly right. Do people even think anymore???
Loved following you on your holiday via facebook—a wonderful break before the new school year starts. And of the 3 books you mentioned, I’ve only read Girl on the Train (which I thought was a good page turner for the summer–I imagine the theme hit deeper for you), but the other two sound terrific. Would the latter two be good discussion books?

Kim unnecessary cruelty baffles me (well all kinds of cruelty). Also what kind of sport was that? The lion stands no chance against a team armed with guns. I can’t believe that this goes on in our world.

Night has never come up as a suggestion—maybe because most of our children had to read it in high school giving us all a chance to re-read it (though I remember reading it first as a young teen—and it still haunts me). But it would be a terrific book for discussion.

How did I miss this post? When all of the news about Cecil first broke, reactions in Idaho were interesting to say the least. There’s a woman in my area who caught flack for posing next to the giraffe she shot. Why would anyone want to kill an animal just for sport? It makes no sense to me. I don’t like the idea of hunting in general, but at least my dad is a responsible hunter and his efforts put extra food in the freezer year after year. He never killed in cold blood and Cecil as indeed killed in cold blood. Hope you had a great time in San Fran!